Kathy Connell: My apologies

I am writing to you in response to Christine Metz's article of Nov. 5, 2003, and your subsequent reactions via Sound Off.

My comments as portrayed by Miss Metz in the newspaper would offend anyone. For that, I deeply and humbly apologize.

Certainly in my conversation with Christine about the demise of Referendum 2A, those comments were not a reflection in any way of what I was trying to say on this very important issue. It is disheartening to be portrayed this way in the newspaper.

To those of you who remain anonymous and angry, I do not know how to reach out to you other than via this format. If any of you would like to have civil discourse with me via phone, in person or via the Internet, and if you have any interest in knowing the context of my conversation with Miss Metz, please call me at 879-7090, which is my home phone number. I work during the day and it is really hard to take calls. I can also be reached by e-mail at kathy@crs-steamboat.com.

I hope one or all of you will contact me. I have and will continue to believe that the only way we can ever solve our very important community issues is through talking to one another and working together regardless of one's own viewpoint.

I grow weary of how our one newspaper reports on issues and wish I had the funds to support a true, written community dialogue.

Again, my sincere apology. We all work very hard to live in this community, and I for one want to keep and make it an even better one.

Kathy Connell

Steamboat Springs City Council

Editor's Note: Steamboat Pilot & Today reporter Christine Metz was assigned to report on Referendum 2A on Election Night. It was her responsibility to ask the sitting City Council president for a response to Referendum 2A's failure. Connell's comments were double-checked for fairness and accuracy before publication. The Pilot & Today stands by the quotes and the context in which they were portrayed in the newspaper.